Vehicle body construction



May 5, 1931. l M- GALE 1,803,668

VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION 4l INI/EN TOR.

MR/HN GALE" 25. BY IA Patented May 5, 1931 if .j

MARIAN GALE, OF LOS ANGELES, VGALIIEORL'ILA VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Application mea February 2o, 192s. serial N61 255,565.

This invention relates to kimprovements in automobile Hoor boards.

The general object of this invention is to provide a heat insulated floor board for automobiles which is adapted to prevent the engine from heating the drivers compartment.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary section through an automobile embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Y

Fig. 3. is an enlarged section through the inclined Hoor board shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line %4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section through a foot pedal such as is preferably used in connection with my improved floor board.

Referring to the ydrawing by reference characters I have indicated a portion ofV an automobile to which my invention is applied at 10. As shown, this automobile includes an engine 12, clutch and brake pedals 14, an accelerator pedal 15 and a transmission gear shift lever housing 16.

In the accompanying drawing I have indicated my invention generally at 17. My invention as shown includes the transverse portion 18, the floor portion 19 and an inclined portion 20. Each portion preferably comprises top and bottom members 21 and 22 spaced apart by end members 23, 24 and by side members 25. The space between the top, bottom, side and end members is occupied by a block 26 which Vis preferably made of poor conductor of heat such as molded asbestos.

The inclined portion 20 when in an operative position as shown in Fig. 1 is usually disposed at an angle and the ends 23 and 24 are preferably shaped so that they fit spugly against the portion 18 and the floor l The top and bottom members 21 and 22V are preferably made of three or more ply wood vas shownV in Figs. 3 and 4, and may be secured to the ends 23 and 24 in any suitable manner as by screws 27.

The ends 23 and 24 are preferably formed of a single thickness of wood as shown.

Where operating members such as the foot pedals 14 and the accelerator pedal l15 are designed to extend through the ioor board 19 I provide apertures 28 which are pref-v erably lno larger than is absolutely necessary to allow of the free actuation of the'deviccs whichextend therethrough.

yIn case the heads of the .'foot pedals 14 are not made detachable, I sever-thel heads from the remaining ofthe pedals and weld thereto a socket 29 in which Iposition the end of the pedals 14 and secure them lto the socket 29 asby al tapered pin30 as shown inFig. Y Y

The inclined portion 20 may be made to V70 'replace-the standard floorv boards of cars and may be used alone or may be combined with portions 18 and 19 or they may be made as standard equipment on new cars. When a new car includes my invention as standard equipment the portions 18, 19 and 2() are preferably constructed alike, as shown in As shown, the portion 18 comprises members 32 spaced apart by side members 33 and having a molded block of asbestos 34 positioned in the space formed by thevmembers 32 and 33.

The iioor 19 is shown as comprising members 35 spaced apartby side members 36 and S having a molded block of asbestos 37 positioned in the space formed by the members 35 and 36.

In the summer my improved Hoor board 19 will keep the heat from the engine from entering the operators compartment and in the winter it will keep the cold air from entering the operators compartment from the bottom, so that under all driving conditions the operator will be comfortable.

When the floor 19 and the partition 18 as well as the portion 20 are constructed as described the operators compartment will be better insulated from the heat and cold Cil than if the portions 18 and 19 are of usual 100 construction, but With the portion 20 only using my invention there is a marked difference in the temperature in the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the controls.

From the foregoing description it Will be apparent that I have provided an improved vehicle body construction which is simple in construction and highly ecient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. For use in a vehicle, an insulated board comprising spaced top and bottom members, end and side members secured to said top and bottom members, said top and bottom g members each being formed of a plurality of pieces of Wood veneer secured together, said end and side members each being formed of a single piece of Wood and being of greater thickness than 'said top and bottom members, the space between said top, bottom, end and side members being filled with asbestos.

2. In combination With an automobile body, a floor board comprising spaced top and bottom members, end and side members secured to said top and bottom members, said top and bottom members each being formed of a plurality of pieces of Wood veneer secured together, said end and side members each being formed of a single piece of Wood and being of greater thickness than said top and bottom members, a iilling of asbestos between said top, bottom, end and side members and a plurality of apertures through said top, bottom and asbestos.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

MARIAN GALE. 

